100 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



offers made, and often refused, of from one to two hundred 

 pounds, and even beyond that sum. and would be still more 

 astonished to see in what a short period they recover their 

 flesh and condition, and, from the half-starved skeleton, assume 

 the appearance and bearing of the noblest and most beautiful 

 animal in the world the high caste Arab horse ! The dhows 

 or vessels in which this commerce is carried on between the 

 Arabian coast and Bombay are often more than one 

 hundred years old. 



The rich, industrious, and indefatigable Parsees, from Sir 

 Jemsetjee Jeejeebhoy down to the smallest bazaar retailer, 

 form an important and picturesque feature in Bombay 

 society. Their numbers are large, their riches immense, 

 and their respectability proverbial. Their parties, which 

 combine every variety of native and European entertain- 

 ment, are amongst the most splendid and costly in the Pre- 

 sidency. They are liberal contributors to all public charities. 

 Their country-houses are beautifully situated, and elegantly 

 furnished, and their equipages of the most stylish descrip- 

 tion, and their habits and mode of living luxurious in the 

 extreme. They retain (as is well known) the ancient faith 

 of the Ghebers, or fire-worshippers of Persia, perhaps with 

 some modifications; but it is difficult to obtain any informa- 

 tion from Parsees on their history or religious opinions, 

 nor, with the exception of the most scrupulous observance of 

 certain ceremonies, such as the prayer of adoration to the 

 first beams of the morning sun, and the funeral rites to the 

 departed, do they seem to trouble themselves much about 

 religious matters. The latter is a very horrible and dis- 

 gusting ceremonial. A round building, resembling a mar- 

 tello tower, is erected on some bare hill or eminence, far 

 removed from any human habitation, and fully exposed to 

 the scorching beams of their deity, the sun. To use the 

 words of a distinguished writer on Indian affairs " The in- 



